PC rebooting During gameplay/ when opening a game

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:36

Well my system is only around 6 weeks old ( ordered from OCUK where I built it myself) and has been completely fine. I'm a complete noob really so don't really know where to start when it comes to this.
For examples. I started up origin and my pc rebooted. No error messages, just a black screen reboot. I was playing bf4 for 10 mins and did the exact same thing. Has happened 3 times now.
Another strange thing is also occuring. After turning back on the pc after sleep, or after leaving it for a while it still shows a complete black screen.
Specs are: GA 970a UD3p mobo
8gb kingston hyperx ram running at default (1600mhz)
xfx 280dd
amd fx8320
superflower 550w gold
I have not touched BIOS settings etc as i'm still learning. Ive ran Unique Heaven 4.0 for the gcard and that was fine. I may test the cpu too but I'm guessing that will be fine as Temperatures are good. 21-26c thermal margin while gaming etc. Gcard also rarely goes above 64c.
Well ye, my PC has been 100% fine until turning it on today where this has been occuring.
Help would be massively appreciated as I get stressed over things like this and it plays on my mind.
Regards.

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:42

Going to try ASUS realbench 2.2 now

Cpute · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:44

have you updated all drivers including motherboard? from the website not the disk in the box?

Cpute · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:46

also next time it happens check your error log that should tell you what happened when it shut down

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:53

I havn't touched driver updates yet but surely this would have happened right at the start. CCC is up to date though.
Where is the error log?
Sorry for my noobity.
Regards.

Cpute · 22 Sep 2014 at 21:56

not necessarily but i would definitely download the updates and assuming your on windows 8 or 8.1 just type error on home screen.

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 22:16

Ran asus realbench 2.0 stress test for 15 mins . Seemed fine and just said some random hash match thing at the end.
Running windows memory diagnostic now.
Would it be worth running realbench and unique valley 4.0 at the same time to check if psu issue?
Also, with realbench it wouldnt let me run it using 8gb ram option even though i have 8gb installes.
Regards

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 22:20

Went in to check "system properties". Shows 8gb ram but only 3.96gb usable ( Windows 8.1) . This hasn't been like it before.
What should I do? I guess this is the problem.
Regards.

Cpute · 22 Sep 2014 at 22:27

yeah running out of ram have you installed the ram in slots of the same colour one in the first slot skip one and one in the next or is it on stick of ram? also are you running 64 bit windows 32 bit will only allow 4 so that might be why

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 22:33

Yes the ram sticks are in the correct slots (1 and 2) . Nearest edge of mobo and 2nd closest to CPU. Definitely correct slots.
I am using a 64bit operating system.
I've also noticed that my program files like msi afterburner, gpu-Z etc are x86 which I thought means 32bit?
I'm confused lol.
Regards.

Cpute · 22 Sep 2014 at 22:46

well not all programmes are 64 bit so thats why x86 is showing up. and in that case im not sure im also having the same problem with my 16gb only showing up as 14gb and 12 usable bare in mind that 2gb is usually reserved for by the system so 8gb should be 6 usable really.

Wodgy · 22 Sep 2014 at 23:07

Cpute said:
well not all programmes are 64 bit so thats why x86 is showing up. and in that case im not sure im also having the same problem with my 16gb only showing up as 14gb and 12 usable bare in mind that 2gb is usually reserved for by the system so 8gb should be 6 usable really.

Thanks for the help anyway. Anyone else able to help here? I just used msconfig and made sure advanced boot options had maximum ram unchecked etc.
It's surely got to be some kind of setting in the BIOS/OS that has caused this to randomly happen.
Ram is showing up as 8gb dual channel in programs such as AMD overdrive. Voltages and timings are the same for each stick in bios/overdrive too. I had no errors in windows memory test.
Regards.

Wodgy · 23 Sep 2014 at 09:03

Just a little bump. Please read carefully though so you have an understanding of whats been done. Much appreciated.
Regards

DaleTheWhale · 23 Sep 2014 at 10:55

Try reseating your RAM, GPU & cables.
Try flashing the motherboard BIOS to the latest if you haven't.

Download the BIOS onto a USB stick, enter the BIOS and select Qflash, select the BIOS files from the USB & it'll go from there.

Wodgy · 23 Sep 2014 at 11:01

ThaReaperGuy said:
Try reseating your RAM, GPU & cables.
Try flashing the motherboard BIOS to the latest if you haven't.

Download the BIOS onto a USB stick, enter the BIOS and select Qflash, select the BIOS files from the USB & it'll go from there.

Thank you for replying. I will do when I get home. I'll have to try flashing the bios another time though. But I would assume that this would have happened from day one if this was the case.
A new bios for my motherboard literally only came out a few weeks ago.
I just find it strange how this has happened so randomly.
just to add. I did look on Memory troubleshoot guide but there are no details about my type of error.
Regards.

DaleTheWhale · 23 Sep 2014 at 11:29

Might not be memory related, could be your PSU/GPU if the PC is just going black when doing something, try setting the GPU power offset to +20% and try running games, should be in CCC.

Have you tried a Prime95 test run, that'll stress your CPU and memory using their full blend mode.

Wodgy · 23 Sep 2014 at 11:31

ThaReaperGuy said:
Might not be memory related, could be your PSU/GPU if the PC is just going black when doing something, try setting the GPU power offset to +20% and try running games, should be in CCC.

Have you tried a Prime95 test run, that'll stress your CPU and memory using their full blend mode.

I dont think its the PSU. I've done Unique valley 4.0 and Asus realbench 2.2 without a problem. Also windows memory diagnostic tool found no errors.
Somestimes when turning on the computer from sleep or leaving it for a while where the computer is hibernated the screen will stay black.
But the PC doesn't just go black . It just reboots in gameplay.
Bare in mind, this has only happened since yesterday.
But ye, with the usage in windows 8.1 showing as 3.96 usable. I'm guessing this is memory related. Even though the BIOS and all other programs like amd overdrive etc shows 8gb with the correct voltages, timings etc etc.
Regards.

DaleTheWhale · 23 Sep 2014 at 11:36

Benchmarks and actual gameplay can give 2 completely different pictures.

If it's just restarting randomly, it sounds like a PSU/GPU issues from what I've seen in the past, is event viewer showing messages of what is happening?

Wodgy · 23 Sep 2014 at 11:50

ThaReaperGuy said:
Benchmarks and actual gameplay can give 2 completely different pictures.

If it's just restarting randomly, it sounds like a PSU/GPU issues from what I've seen in the past, is event viewer showing messages of what is happening?

havn't checked event viewer yet sorry. Just error log which didn't really show anything.
I would have thought that but temperatures/ votlages are fine etc, everything I've searched upon suggests the memory.
I will have a look when I get in though.
Regards.

Wodgy · 23 Sep 2014 at 14:04

Should I just follow the "Troubleshoot" sticky or has anybody else got an inkling. Again you would have to read carefully.
To me though ( however unexperienced I am) it sounds like a software problem as windows 8.1 is reserving memory and only showing 3.96gb usable out of the 8gb installed as like I said every other program such as AMD overdrive and even in the BIOS the rams are shown correctly.